Touch-free payment system now available at more Greater Anglia rail station car parks

February 19, 2021

People who park their car at Cambridge North, Chelmsford and Ely rail stations will no longer have to use a pay machine, thanks to the introduction of Automatic Number Plate Recognition.

Greater Anglia, in partnership with NCP, the UK’s largest parking retailer and operator, has installed the online system for greater convenience and to give customers more control over how and when they pay for their parking.

The ticketless ANPR technology makes it easier for customers to pay for parking and helps to improve security.

Customers can now pay for their parking online anytime up until midnight the day after their visit on the Great Anglia Parking website (gaparking.co.uk). They can even pre-register their car and payment details online, allowing automatic payment to make parking completely hassle-free.

Blue badge holders will continue to park for free, provided they register with NCP either online or by phone within 24 hours of leaving the car park. They can do this online, by phone or by post and register more than one car if required.

The upgrade is part of an on-going programme to make parking simpler – by removing the need for cash and by offering choice when it comes to electronic payment methods.

Other stations where ANPR is available include Audley End, Billericay, Bishop’s Stortford, Broxbourne, Cambridge, Cheshunt, Colchester, Diss, Harlow Town, Hatfield Peverel, Ingatestone, Ipswich, Kelvedon, Manningtree, Marks Tey, Rayleigh, Shenfield, Wickford, Witham and Whittlesford.

The car park ticket machines have now been removed from Cambridge North, Chelmsford and Ely rail station car parks. Customers can pay at www.gaparking.co.uk either at the time of parking or up to midnight the following day after they have left the car park.

Customers can either choose to purchase a single visit ticket or they can create an account where they are able to access offers such as Autopay or longer-term parking season tickets. Customers can also use the Pay by Phone on line service at  www.paybyphone.co.uk or they can download the app from the Play Store or App Store either at the time of parking or up to midnight the following day after they have left the car park to pay for their daily parking ticket. If required they can telephone the number displayed within the car park to pay by phone.

Furthermore, each upgraded car park can also provide customers with real time occupancy data via the Greater Anglia website and Great Anglia Parking Portal.

This allows all customers to view current availability at the car park ahead of their visit, as well as expected occupancy for any given time or day of the week based on historical trend data.

Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia Asset Management Director, said: “We know customers who drive to stations want to be able to park as quickly and easily as possible, which is why we’re committed to improving parking across the Greater Anglia network, making life a little easier for our customers.”

The upgrade is part of Greater Anglia’s wider plans to improve car parking at its stations, by adding extra car parking spaces and improving CCTV, signage and lighting across the network.